Macaulay Culkin returned to the Golden Globe Awards stage on January 11, 2026, reminding Hollywood that he exists beyond the holiday season.
The 45-year-old actor presented the Best Screenplay, Motion Picture award at the Beverly Hilton, drawing cheers from the crowd as he reflected on the 35-year gap since his first-and only-prior nomination.
At a Glance
- Culkin last attended the Golden Globes in 1991 when he was nominated for Best Actor for Home Alone
- On stage, he joked about being seen “outside the holiday season” after decades of Home Alone holiday reruns
- The screenplay prize went to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
- The Fallout season 2 star walked the carpet with fiancée Brenda Song
A Nostalgic Return
Culkin stepped to the microphone to audible applause and immediately acknowledged the moment. “Thank you,” he said, visibly moved by the warm reception.
“I know it’s weird to see me outside the holiday season,” he added, laughing. “Shockingly, I do exist all year round.” The quip referenced the enduring popularity of Home Alone and its 1992 sequel, both of which are replayed heavily each December.
The actor’s 1991 nomination came after the November 1990 release of Home Alone, directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes. At that ceremony he lost to Gérard Depardieu for Green Card.
Red-Carpet Appearance
Before the telecast, Culkin posed alongside fiancée Brenda Song. The couple, together since 2017, share two sons-Dakota and Carson. Photographers captured the pair on the red carpet, marking one of their rare joint public appearances.
Culkin signaled his participation three days earlier via Instagram. On January 8 he posted a screengrab of the official presenter announcement captioned simply, “Cya Sunday.”
Award Result
The Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, Motion Picture, ultimately went to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another. Culkin read the nominees before opening the envelope and delivering the result to sustained applause.
Career Context
- Culkin became a household name at age 10 playing resourceful Kevin McCallister in Home Alone
- The film earned $476 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing live-action comedy of its era
- He returns to television this year in season 2 of Amazon’s Fallout, expanding a career renaissance that began with 2019’s Changeland
- His recent work reflects a deliberate shift toward independent projects and selective studio roles
Key Takeaways
- Culkin’s self-deprecating humor highlighted the lasting link between him and the holiday classic
- The appearance marked his first time back at the Globes since childhood stardom
- Walking the carpet with Song, he showcased a stable family life that contrasts with early tabloid headlines
- The moment served as both nostalgia for viewers and a career milestone for the actor himself
